Since we are all reborn, let’s arrest the senior!

On a crisp winter morning, the biting wind, like an invisible beast, swept through the streets and alleys, carrying ice crystals. The howling wind seeped into Jiang Zimei's room through the cracks in the window, making the pale blue gauze curtains rustle. Jiang Zimei was curled up in her soft blankets, her eyelashes fluttering. Her phone vibrated incessantly beside her pillow, the screen reflecting her sleepy yet smiling face. Lu Mingze's message flashed on the screen: "Baby, there's a super cold wind warning today. Remember to wear your thickest down jacket. I'll bring you some hot roasted chestnuts later." The crookedly drawn heart looked especially warm against the cool-toned screen.

She sat up abruptly, her fingertips touching the cold air, and couldn't help but shiver. The moment she drew back the curtains, a biting chill rushed in. Outside, the sky was pressed low by thick, leaden-gray clouds, as if a blizzard could be unleashed at any moment. The sycamore trees on the street swayed violently in the gale, their bare branches clattering against each other with a cracking sound. A few remaining withered leaves were swept up by the wind, swirling in the air before finally drifting helplessly to the snow-covered pavement.

Jiang Zimei quickly finished washing up and wrapped herself in a fluffy white down jacket. The pom-poms on her pink knitted hat swayed gently with her movements. She straightened her bangs, which had been messed up by the hat, in front of the mirror. Her fingertips accidentally touched her slightly warm earlobe, and she remembered the gentle look in Lu Mingze's eyes when he helped her straighten her bangs last time. A blush unconsciously crept onto her cheeks.

Just as I was about to leave, the familiar sound of an electric scooter bell came from downstairs. Looking out the window, I saw Lu Mingze standing in the cold wind, his dark gray overcoat fluttering in the wind, the hem of his shirt, stained with flour, peeking out from under the flapping fabric. He kept breathing on his hands to try and ward off the chill; his nose and cheeks were already red from the cold, and tiny ice crystals had even formed on his eyelashes. The insulated water cooler he was clutching tightly in his arms emitted wisps of steam in the cold air, as if telling a story of his thoughtfulness.

Jiang Zimei hurried downstairs, the cold wind instantly rushing into her collar, causing her to involuntarily shrink her neck. Before she could speak, Lu Mingze handed her the thermos, then magically pulled a bag of hot, roasted chestnuts from his coat pocket, the bag still warm from his palm: "Eat quickly, they're still warm. The wind was too strong on the way here, I was afraid they'd get cold." Jiang Zimei took the chestnuts, peeled one, and put it in her mouth. The sweet, soft, and chewy taste instantly spread across her tongue, warmth spreading from her throat to her heart. She looked up, her eyes sparkling: "Mingze, you're so good to me."

Lu Mingze reached out and gently pinched her cheeks, which were red from the cold. His fingertips brushed against her delicate skin, carrying a slight coolness. "Silly girl, who else would I be nice to if not you? Let's go, we'll go to the orphanage first. I promised the children I'd teach them how to make snowflake lanterns today." The two got on the electric scooter and headed towards the orphanage in the howling wind. Along the way, Jiang Zimei hugged Lu Mingze tightly around the waist, burying her face in his back, listening to his slightly heavy breathing from riding against the wind, and feeling the warmth emanating from him. It was as if the whole world had stopped being cold.

When they arrived at the orphanage, the gale showed no signs of abating; in fact, it seemed to be intensifying. The director stood anxiously at the door, his gray hair disheveled by the wind, his wrinkled face etched with worry. Upon seeing Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze, he rushed to greet them, his voice filled with obvious anxiety: "You're finally here! Something terrible has happened! Several tiles were ripped off the roof of the activity room by the strong wind, and now it's leaking air and snow, and the children are freezing."

Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze exchanged a worried glance. Through the crack in the door behind the director, they could faintly hear the children's suppressed coughs. "Director, don't worry, let's go check on them," Lu Mingze said, and he and Jiang Zimei ran towards the activity room. The moment they pushed open the door, a wave of biting cold rushed in, and Jiang Zimei instinctively pulled her down jacket tighter. Several large holes had appeared in the ceiling of the activity room, and snowflakes mixed with the cold wind poured in through the holes, forming tiny vortexes of ice crystals in the air, which then fluttered down onto the floor, the tables, and the children's thin clothes.

Twenty-odd children huddled in a corner, their little faces red with cold, their lips purple, and their teeth chattering. They nestled together, yet still couldn't ward off the chill. A glimmer of hope flashed in their eyes when they saw Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze, but it was quickly replaced by fear and cold. Jiang Zimei felt a pang of heartache. She quickly took off her down jacket and draped it over a shivering little girl beside her, the soft white down brushing against the girl's red cheeks. Then she turned to Lu Mingze and said, "Mingze, we have to find a way to fix the roof first, otherwise the children will freeze." Lu Mingze nodded, his eyes resolute: "You comfort the children first, I'll go find some materials." With that, he turned without hesitation and ran out into the howling wind.

Jiang Zimei walked among the children, squatted down, and tried to make her voice sound warm and firm: "Don't be afraid, children, your brother is going to find us 'magic patches,' and we'll fix the roof in no time! Now, let's play a game, and sing a warm song together, okay?" The children's previously dim eyes lit up at the mention of a game, and they all nodded. Jiang Zimei started, and the activity room filled with the children's tender voices singing songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Edelweiss"... The children's voices trembled slightly at first, but as the song progressed, they gradually became firm and unified. The singing echoed in the cold room, as if injecting a touch of warmth into the chilly space.

Meanwhile, Lu Mingze was rummaging through the orphanage's storeroom for usable materials. The storeroom door rattled in the wind, and snowflakes swirled in, piling up in a thin layer on the ground. He squinted, searching carefully in the dim light. Dust from the piles of junk was whipped up by the wind, making him cough, but he didn't stop. Finally, he found a few pieces of discarded plastic sheeting and some hemp rope. Although not ideal, it should be enough to temporarily plug the leak in the roof. He shouldered the heavy plastic sheeting, gripped the hemp rope tightly in his hand, took a deep breath, and trudged towards the activity room.

The gale, like an invisible hand, pushed him forcefully, requiring all his strength for each step. Several times, he nearly blew him over, and the plastic sheet almost slipped from his grasp. But thinking of the children still suffering from the cold, he gritted his teeth, hoisted the plastic sheet higher, and continued moving forward step by step. The wind stung his face like knives, his ears were numb from the cold, and his hands were red and raw from the rough hemp rope, but his eyes remained resolute.

Back in the activity room, Lu Mingze, without even wiping the sweat and dust from his brow, began climbing the ladder to repair the roof. Jiang Zimei helped him from below, passing him tools and reminding him to be careful from time to time. The cold wind blew in through the hole in the roof, making Lu Mingze's hair a mess and the tools in his hands extremely cold. His hands were numb with cold, and his movements became clumsy, but he remained focused on securing the plastic sheeting to the hole in the roof, every movement embodying his love for the children. The children looked up at him, their eyes filled with admiration, as if he were a superhero saving the world.

After more than half an hour of effort, the leak in the roof was finally temporarily patched. Although some gaps were still letting in drafts, it was much better than before. Lu Mingze climbed down the ladder, his legs feeling slightly weak. Jiang Zimei quickly handed him hot water: "Mingze, drink some hot water to warm up, your hands are frozen." Lu Mingze took the cup, and the hot water flowed down his throat, finally making him feel a little warmer. Looking at Jiang Zimei's concerned eyes, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, and his fatigue instantly dissipated.

Just then, a little boy ran over, grabbed Lu Mingze's hand, and said, "Brother, you're so amazing! Just like a superhero!" The other children also gathered around, praising him enthusiastically. Lu Mingze smiled and patted the little boy's head: "As long as you're not cold, all my hard work is worth it. Now, shouldn't we start making snowflake lanterns?" The children cheered, the gloom from before vanished, and the activity room was filled with laughter again.

Jiang Zimei took out the colored cardstock, scissors, and glue she had prepared beforehand and walked among the children. She sat on the floor, legs crossed, patiently demonstrating to the children how to make snowflake lanterns. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the hastily repaired roof, casting a golden halo on her hair. The children sat around her, their little heads close together, their eyes fixed on her every move. This time, Duoduo didn't hide in a corner as usual, but instead sat down next to Jiang Zimei, the cuffs of her worn sweater swaying gently with her movements. "Sister, how do I fold this corner?"

Duoduo asked softly, her voice tinged with a timid anticipation. Jiang Zimei gently held her hand, feeling her cool fingertips, and taught her step by step: "First fold it in half like this, then flip this corner over... Yes, that's it, you're so smart!" With Jiang Zimei's help, Duoduo finally folded a beautiful snowflake shape, and a happy smile appeared on her face. This was the first time Jiang Zimei had seen her smile so brightly, like a ray of warm sunshine in winter.

Lu Mingze, meanwhile, was drawing exquisite patterns on the children's lanterns with his paintbrush. He knelt on the ground, his sketchbook spread out on his lap, the pencil scratching on the paper. As he drew, he told the children stories about snowflakes and lanterns: "Legend has it that long, long ago, every snowflake was a little elf. They were playing in the sky when they accidentally fell into a lantern and became a beautiful snowflake lantern..." The children listened intently, their eyes sparkling with curiosity, filling the activity room with a warm atmosphere.

Just as everyone was immersed in joy, a sudden, urgent knocking broke the tranquility of the room. The children stopped what they were doing, their eyes filled with unease. The director led in a middle-aged woman with a frantic expression. The woman's hair was disheveled, her face streaked with tears, and her breathing was rapid and panicked. "Has anyone seen my child?" her voice choked with emotion, filled with endless worry and fear. "My Lele said this morning she was coming to the orphanage to see her older brothers and sisters, but she hasn't come home yet!"

Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze were startled. They exchanged a glance, seeing the same tension and worry in each other's eyes. Jiang Zimei stood up, walked to the woman's side, and gently held her cold hand, trying to calm her down: "Auntie, don't worry, tell me slowly. When did Lele leave home? Are there any clues?" The middle-aged woman wiped away her tears and sobbed, "Around eight o'clock this morning, he said he was coming to see you. I didn't take it seriously, thinking he would be back soon. But I haven't heard from him since, and his phone is switched off."

Jiang Zimei looked around but couldn't see Lele anywhere. Her heart clenched, and a chill ran through her from her feet to her entire body. "Mingze, we have to go look for her right away. What if something happens to Lele outside in this cold weather?" Her voice trembled slightly. Lu Mingze nodded, his eyes firm and serious. He turned to the director and said, "Director, please organize the orphanage staff to search the vicinity. Zimei and I will search other places." The director immediately nodded and began loudly assigning tasks. The orphanage staff sprang into action, putting on their coats, grabbing flashlights, and preparing to go out to search.

Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze braved the strong wind and rushed out of the orphanage. The cold wind stung their faces like knives, but they were oblivious. There were almost no pedestrians on the street, only the howling wind and the occasional sound of snapping branches. As they walked, they called out Lele's name loudly: "Lele! Lele! Where are you?" Their voices echoed in the empty street, but there was no response.

They searched every park, convenience store, and even some secluded alleyways where Lele might have gone. In each place, they meticulously searched every corner, leaving no clue unchecked. Jiang Zimei's voice gradually became hoarse, and her hands and feet were numb with cold, but she didn't give up, her eyes constantly scanning her surroundings. Lu Mingze stayed close to her, occasionally pulling her along, afraid she would slip on the icy surface.

As time passed, darkness gradually fell, and streetlights flickered on one by one, but they couldn't dispel the gloom in their hearts. Snowflakes began to fall, making the search even more difficult. Jiang Zimei's eyelashes were covered with snowflakes, blurring her vision, but she continued her search with unwavering determination. "Lele must be so scared. In this cold weather, could he be hiding somewhere?" she said anxiously, her voice trembling with tears. Lu Mingze put his arm around her shoulder, offering her warmth: "Don't worry, we'll definitely find him. Let's go check the river again; Lele said he liked watching the ducks there."

The two walked towards the river against the strong wind. The river water rippled in the cold wind, and the reeds on the bank swayed and rustled in the wind.

Suddenly, Jiang Zimei heard a faint crying sound coming from the reeds. "Mingze, listen! It sounds like Lele's voice!" she said excitedly, her eyes shining with hope.

The two quickly ran towards the direction from which the sound came. The reeds brushed against their faces, leaving red marks, but they ignored the pain. Pushing aside the dense reeds, they saw Lele curled up in a corner, her little face purple from the cold, her lips bloodless, her clothes covered in mud, and her hair disheveled.

(End of this chapter)